But that's also kind of the point too: Windows Lite exists but MSFT is "gatkeeping" it to enterprise users only. Probably because they are paying for it.
That's incorrect. The article merely addresses availability, not licensing.
"Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC is designed for devices that have strict change-management policies with only security and critical bug fixes." There is no way for anyone, enterprise or otherwise, to license LTSC for conventional use on their own PC. LTSC IoT is the successor to Windows CE, strictly licensed for embedded applications like kiosks, ATMs, slot machines and the like.
When you do license LTSC for a device, you obtain the .iso the same way as all other volume-licensed versions. That's all the article at your URL is talking about.
Seconding the correction that LTSC is not restricted to hardware OEMs. I work for a multinational construction materials company and we image LTSC machines day in day out.
We were doing LTSC for Windows 10 years back as well, so I'm genuinely curious about any resources on this. We're very by-the-book and I'd be incredibly shocked to find we're actually in violation of any laws/ToS.
Economically, you would probably be the only customer (stated willingness to pay can differ from market outcome ;) paying that amount. Your stated willingness to pay has little relation to the true value of our data and digital sovereignty to Microsoft.
A funny estimate is possible though. MSFT 2750 G$
market cap and 550 M business users. That’s 5 k$ per user. Grossly misrepresenting everything (AI bubble, other cashflows, …) but it is a ‘directionally right’.
Indeed there are much more customers than you could imagine in the non-profit/ government sectors paying for that. There are a lot of compliance regulations regarding to data governance that force them to use a clean and lite LTSC version of Windows.
It's not cheap, but getting it legally is easy, and you don't need a VAR.
Specifically, you can buy a single-seat Microsoft 365 E3 subscription directly from Microsoft for $432/year, which includes a license for a single user to use Windows Enterprise, including LTSC, on up to 5 PCs (along with other stuff, mainly Office).